Blog – Heavy Hits

Skrillex #PepperDJChallenge – Enter to win $1500 & an annual subscription to Heavy Hits!

heavyhits — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 19:30:30 +0000

Heavy Hits Record Pool & Atlantic Records present a DJ challenge for Skrillex and his brand new release “Pepper” featuring Flowdan & Lil Baby. DJs from around the world are welcome to enter the “Skrillex Pepper DJ Challenge” for a chance to win $1500 and an annual subscription to Heavy Hits Record Pool. The Heavy Hits crew will host and help judge the competition.

Prizes

Grand Prize: $1500 and an annual subscription to Heavy Hits Record Pool.
2nd Place: $750 and a 6 month subscription to Heavy Hits Record Pool.
3rd Place: $250 and a 3 month subscription to Heavy Hits Record Pool.
4th/5th Place: 1 month subscription to Heavy Hits Record Pool.

How to Enter

1. Record a (1 to 2 minute) video routine of yourself DJing using Skrillex’s single “Pepper” and any other of his other hit singles listed in the playlist below. You can use original and remixes of the records in your routines as well as samples of other songs from Skrillex’s catalog on Atlantic Records.
2. Upload your video routine as an Instagram feed post (before Sunday, November 19th at 11:59pm EST). Make sure to use the hashtag #PEPPERDJCHALLENGE as well as tag @heavyhitspool and @skrillex in your Instagram post.

Routines will be judged on the following criteria.

a. 35 Points – Creativity and originality – use of wordplay, toneplay, or drumming.
b. 35 Points – Technical Skills – Demonstration of proficient turntablist techniques, overall flow, and execution of routine.
c. 30 Points – Charisma – Their DJ presence with their gestures, body language, body tricks, and online swag.

The top submissions will be announced on Tuesday, November 21st. 2023.

Rules & Additional Details

– Contest is open to participants worldwide (no purchase necessary to enter). All videos must be submitted before Sunday, November 19th at 11:59pm EST and will be judged by the Heavy Hits crew based on creativity, charisma, technical skill, and originality along with consideration from follower feedback (comments, likes, etc).
– Mandatory Hashtags to enter the contest #PepperDJChallenge @skrillex @HeavyHitsPool
– Instagram videos must predominantly use the song “Pepper” and any other of his other hit singles listed in the playlist below. You can use originals and remixes of the records in your routines as well as samples of other songs from Skrillex’s catalog on Atlantic Records.
– Videos must be no more than 2 minutes and no less than 1 minute in length and posted on the entrant’s Instagram timeline.

Heavy Hits Members, check out the playlist below for some of the assets you may want to use for the contest (must be logged in to access):

SIGN UP for only $5 using promo code ‘PEPPER’ (*DJs Only)
*Heavy Hits is for DJs, producers & music professionals only. Verification of this is required before access can be granted.

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The BEST Way to Organize Music for DJ’ing

Greg Gioia — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 17:35:45 +0000

I’ve seen and read about many ways that DJs organize their music, and am convinced that my way is the best way. I’ve written about it once before, but after having been asked many times for more details, I’ve recorded a tutorial video to teach you how to do this.

I use Apple Music to organize all my music, and to sort it into virtual DJ crates that are then imported into Serato. If you know a better way to do it, I’m all ears. Comment below!

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Meet the Overturned Big Rig and the Derailed Freight Train

Greg Gioia — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:40:24 +0000

Perhaps you have heard of Overturned Big Rig or Derailed Freight Train, but probably not. Both are stage names of a California DJ. He plays records, and mixes and scratches them. This sounds like every DJ out there, but once you listen I’m sure you’ll agree this California DJ is doing something… different. Very different. Imagine if Ted Kaczynski had learned how to mix records rather than make bombs, and then performed a Vulcan mind meld with DJ Shadow. Now you’re starting to get it.

I sat down with this California DJ, for I had questions. Many questions. Here are the answers.

Be patient.

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Bring on the Sample Spotters

Greg Gioia — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:52:20 +0000

How many times have you listened to a song, usually a hip hop song, and wondered what song or songs were sampled to create it? Or heard a song for the first time that sounded very familiar, despite having never heard it before, because it was built around another song that you just can’t place? Shazam is of no help in those circumstances. It’s only going to tell you the name of the song being played, not the pieces of other songs that were used to create it. There’s only one thing to do in those circumstances– Call the Sample Spotters!

Okay, you can’t actually call them. But you can visit them on Facebook. You can even join them if you have a talent and passion for unearthing the arcane samples that are used to create hip hop tracks.

The Sample Spotters group was created in 2016 by Omar Lopez, initially as an a way to replicate the chat about samples, and the identification of samples, he’d enjoyed on a site called The Breaks. That site had sort of died down, so he put together a Facebook group to take its place. He had no idea it would blow up as it did, and after minimal promotion the site grew to its present-day size of nearly 20,000 users.

Group members post links to songs containing samples they hope others can help them identify, as well as songs whose samples they have cracked themselves. They are extremely good at what they do. You may be familiar with the site Who Sampled, but you may not know that a large number of the samples identified there were originally discovered by the Sample Spotters group.

It’s rare that the artists whose work is being dissected take notice, or if they do they don’t let it be known, but there have been two notable exceptions. In one case, a producer (who will remain nameless) reached out to the group and asked them to take down a post identifying a record he’d sampled. It seems he hadn’t cleared the sample, and didn’t want to face the legal repercussions if the sampled artist found out. The Sample Spotters aren’t out to get anyone in trouble, and the post was quietly deleted.

On another occasion, the famous hip hop producer Easy Mo Bee contacted the group and told them they had misidentified the sample he’d used. It wasn’t what they thought it was! Needless to say, that post was also removed, and cubhats were worn all around the group that day.

When asked about some of the more difficult samples the group has spotted, Omar told me, “Agallah – Man of the House was a search which ended up with us finding an incredibly obscure soul 45 from an either unreleased or lost blaxploitation film that there was almost no information for online.” It turned out to be a song originally written for Michael Jackson, but one he never sang. Instead, Motown turned it over to an unknown label, to be sung by an unknown kid. The record only recently surface, long after the sample had been spotted. The fruits of that labor can be seen in this old post from the group.

Another great search involved KMD, MF Doom, and Ernie and Bert from Sesame Street. That quest was so epic that it ended up being the topic of an online article!

The group keeps an ever-changing Most Wanted list of 20 samples they are most keen to unearth. When a user cracks a song on the list, he’s allowed to choose its replacement. The current list of 20 songs can be found here. Perhaps YOU can ID one?? You’ll have to join the group to see it, but if you are crate-digger, sample head, producer, or even just a hip hop fan, you will probably find it quite interesting. Be sure to say hi to Omar if you join. Tell him Heavy Hits sent you!

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The State of Hip Hop Vinyl

Greg Gioia — Wed, 17 May 2023 21:33:25 +0000

Last year I wrote about my experience selling hip hop albums at the Austin Record Convention. Vinyl heads know, but for those that don’t the ARC is the largest vinyl show in the U.S., and second-largest in the world. Collectors and vendors come to Austin from all over the world each May to buy and sell vinyl records and music memorabilia.

Last year, I sold a handful of records– enough to justify returning in 2023– but it wasn’t anything to write home about. I did, however, write an article for Heavy Hits about it, and received a lot of feedback from readers. Surprisingly, to me at least, was that the most frequent statement was along the lines of “thanks for sharing the prices!”

Vinyl dealers know that one of the hardest things to do is to price your inventory. There are various methods for doing so, but none is an exact science. You can see what other vendors are charging on Discogs or eBay, but there is often a wide range of asking prices. You can also look for completed sales, but those tend to be an inaccurate representation of what is being paid for a given record. I’ve been in the industry for a long time, and can say with certainty that the highest prices paid for records seldom happens on a site, so if you are pricing inexpensive records, then the log of recently completed sales may be fairly accurate, but for rare and pricey records, it’s not.

Whenever I list a sought after or expensive record, I receive many version of the same email. “Can I pay you directly off-site?” Buyers want to avoid fees. And so do sellers. Many times I’ve inquired about the condition of a record and am told by the seller that I can get a lower price if I send funds directly, and bypass Discogs, eBay, etc. The ethics of this are up to you to decide, but the upshot is that while a record may have never sold for more than, say, $200 on Discogs, it’s very likely to have sold for far more in a private transaction, so price accordingly.

In any event, at this year’s show, hip hop vinyl was selling like hotcakes. It seems everyone wants old rap albums. Rap 12″ singles, not so much, but the original press of a classic rap album is in high demand in 2023. Case in point: at last year’s show I sold 15 records for a total of $721.00. Not bad, but not great. This year? I sold 108 albums for a total of $6,100.00. That’s a huge difference, and it had nothing to do with my inventory. I brought the exact same crates this year as last year, minus a few of the 15 albums I sold last year that I wasn’t able to restock. Why is hip hop so hot right now? Who knows? Ask Jacobim Mugatu, but don’t ask me. All I know is that it is.

Finally, like last year, here is a list of what I sold, including my asking price and the actual selling price. This is some priceless, real-world data for anyone else who sells records, because this represents what an actual human paid in actual money for a record.

Every record sold was an original press unless otherwise noted. All were VG+ or better unless noted.

3rd Bass The Cactus Al/bum 40.00
Afrika Bambaataa & SoulSonic Force Planet Rock – The Album 95.00
Audio Two What More Can I Say? 35.00
Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique 240.00
Beastie Boys Check Your Head 225.00
Beastie Boys To the 5 Boroughs [reissue] 35.00
Beastie Boys The Mix-Up 85.00
Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill 50.00
Biz Markie The Biz Never Sleeps 80.00
Boogie Down Productions Criminal Minded 65.00
Boogie Down Productions Man and His Music 25.00
Boogie Down Productions By All Means Necessary 25.00
Boogie Down Productions Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop 25.00
Brand Nubian One for All 80.00
Cypress Hill Cypress Hill 225.00
D.O.C., The No One Can Do It Better 75.00
Dana Dane Dana Dane With Fame 20.00
Davy D Davy’s Ride 5.00
De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising 200.00
De La Soul De La Soul is Dead 200.00
De La Soul Buhloone Mindstate 200.00
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Rock the House 15.00
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper 15.00
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince And in This Corner… 17.00
DJ Shadow Preemptive Strike 50.00
Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew Oh, My God! 18.00
Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew The World’s Greatest Entertainer 15.00
Downtown Science Downtown Science 95.00
Dr. Dre The Chronic 250.00
Eazy-E Eazy-Duz-It 100.00
Egyptian Lover, The On the Nile 50.00
EPMD Strictly Business 50.00
Eric B. & Rakim Follow the Leader 45.00
Eric B. & Rakim Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em 60.00
Fat Boys Fat Boys 10.00
Fat Boys The Fat Boys are Back 10.00
Fugees The Score 65.00
Gang Starr Step in the Arena 70.00
Gang Starr Hard to Earn 250.00
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five Greatest Messages 10.00
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five On the Strength 5.00
Guru Jazzmatazz Volume 1 100.00
Handsome Boy Modeling School So… How’s Your Girl? 110.00
Ice T Rhyme Pays 35.00
Ice T Power 30.00
Jonzun Crew Lost in Space 9.00
Kanye West The College Dropout 30.00
Kanye West Late Registration 30.00
King Tech – M.C. Sway Flynamic Force 115.00
King Tee Act a Fool 50.00
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo Road to the Riches 50.00
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo Wanted Dead or Alive 50.00
Kool Moe Dee Kool Moe Dee 35.00
Kool Moe Dee How Ya Like Me Now 15.00
Kurtis Blow Kurtis Blow 10.00
Kurtis Blow Kingdom Blow 5.00
L.L. Cool J Radio 50.00
L.L. Cool J Bigger and Deffer 25.00
L.L. Cool J Walking With a Panther 60.00
L.L. Cool J Mama Said Knock You Out 75.00
L’Trimm Grab It! 10.00
Lakim Shabazz Pure Righteousness 25.00
Low Profile We’re In This Together 75.00
Marley Marl In Control, Volume 1 35.00
Masters of Ceremony Dynamite 15.00
MC Hammer Let’s Get It Started 10.00
MC Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em 20.00
MC Shy-D Got to Be Tough 20.00
MC Shy-D Comin’ Correct in ’88 20.00
Notorious B.I.G., The Born Again 20.00
Public Enemy Yo! Bum Rush the Show 45.00
Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet 80.00
Public Enemy Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Back 75.00
Public Enemy Greatest Misses 40.00
Redman Whut? Thee Album 90.00
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock It Takes Two 10.00
Rodney O Joe Cooley Me and Joe [VG-] 50.00
Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C. 30.00
Run-D.M.C. King of Rock 27.00
Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell 22.00
Run-D.M.C. Together Forever 30.00
Run-D.M.C. Down with the King 65.00
Salt-N-Pepa Hot Cool and Vicious [G+] 10.00
Sir Mix-a-Lot Swass 42.00
Slick Rick The Great Adventures of Slick Rick 50.00
Spoonie Gee The Godfather of Rap 10.00
Stetsasonic On Fire 25.00
Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud Girls I Got ‘Em Locked 20.00
Tone Loc Loc’ed After Dark 25.00
Too Short Born to Mack 65.00
Tribe Called Quest, A People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm 180.00
Tribe Called Quest, A Midnight Marauders 125.00
Tribe Called Quest, A Beats, Rhymes, and Life 112.00
Ultramagnetic MC’s Critical Beatdown 150.00
Ultramagnetic MC’s The Basement Tapes 10.00
UTFO UTFO 15.00
Various Artists Wild Style Soundtrack 30.00
Various Artists Rap 1 9.00
Various Artists Rap 2 9.00
Various Artists Krush Groove Soundtrack 5.00
Various Artists Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack 10.00
Various Artists The Rap Pack 10.00
Various Artists Rhyme Syndicate Comin’ Through 10.00
Various Artists Battle of the DJ’s 5.00
Whodini Escape 45.00
Wu-Tang Clan, The Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 125.00
X-Clan To the East Blackwards 65.00
Young M.C. Stone Cold Rhymin’ [G] 10.00

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You Are How You Look

Greg Gioia — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 21:03:47 +0000

As DJs, we’re often so concerned with how we sound, that we forget how important looks are, too. I don’t mean your physical appearance. You don’t have to be Ryan Gosling or Emma Stone to win at the DJ’ing game. I mean your gear. Obviously, if you play in a venue where everything is set and ready for you, this is less important, so today I’m mostly speaking to the DJs who bring their own gear.

Your mixing can be flawless, and your song selection perfect. You may have 100,000 songs at your fingertips, and know the BPM and phrasing of every one of them. You may sound like Michael Buffer on the microphone. That’s all great, but if your setup is sloppy, people will remember you as the sloppy DJ. So how do you go about cleaning up and looking good?

For starters, keep your cables out of sight, at least as much as possible. You’ll need to have a couple cables running to speakers, and one running to a power source, but do your best to cover up everything else. I use a Bunn Gear Command Center, and swear by it, but there are many other options. That’s a good thing, as I’ve heard the Command Centers are sold out, at least for the moment, and may never come back into stock. If so, that’s a shame. I’d buy three more if I could! Another good option is a facade. You can make a simple one yourself, or buy a nice pre-made one. At its most basic, a DJ facade is three pieces of wood or plastic, painted or carpeted, and connected with hinges to create a movable wall. Set that in front of your table and you’ll hide a lot of mess.

You can also build a simple DJ table. A nice one has a recessed area for your controller or turntables, which not only looks great, but also keeps all the connecting cables out of sight.

Another option is a traditional DJ coffin, resting upon a heavy-duty keyboard stand. I used one for years with my turntables, and despite putting on scratch-heavy turntablist performances, never had any issues with skipping. Those things are rock solid and steady. The drawback is, of course, visible wires, so any keyboard stand setup almost certainly requires a facade or similar.

Once you’ve got your setup in place, and everything looks good, make sure to tape down the speaker cables and power cable, and any other exposed wiring. Not only will it look better, and more professional, but it will prevent guests, and you, from tripping on wires and getting hurt or yanking a plug from a socket. Buy gaffer’s tape, not duct tape. It’s more expensive, but it is easier to remove at the end of the night, and won’t damage floors or walls.

And finally, make sure you are dressed appropriately. Gone are the days when DJs were universally expected to show up in a tuxedo, but often a suit is still a good choice. Find out ahead of time how the person paying you expects you to dress, and follow those guidelines. My experience in life is that it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed, and it’s nearly never inappropriate to wear a suit, but you do you, you sexy DJ, you!

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Beat-Matching & Mixing with Vinyl

Greg Gioia — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 14:51:02 +0000

One of the questions I’m asked most often by other DJs, novices and veterans alike, is how do I mix vinyl records so seamlessly? In a time when most DJs learn using all the visual cues, and technical aids, found in software like Serato or Rekordbox, mixing using only one’s ears can be daunting. Today I’m going to try to explain how to start learning to mix using actual vinyl records, i.e. not control vinyl, although everything I say is also applicable to mixing using other formats.

Before you start:

Before you start learning how to beatmatch and mix vinyl records, there are a few things you need to have ready. For starters, you will need a pair of turntables and a mixer. You will also need a collection of vinyl records, and a pair of headphones. Ideally, you should invest in a good quality pair of headphones that are designed for DJing, as they will help you to hear the music more clearly and accurately. Earbuds or Airpods aren’t going to cut it here.

You should also make sure that your turntables are set up correctly. This includes ensuring that they are level, that the tonearms are correctly balanced, and that the needles are in good condition. You should also make sure that your mixer is set up correctly, with all cables plugged into the correct inputs, your input and output levels are dialed in, and that your headphones are connected to the mixer.

Eventually, you should make sure that you have a good understanding of music theory and the structure of songs. This will help you to understand how different tracks fit together, and how to create seamless transitions between them. I’ll go into more detail about music theory and phrasing in a future article, but in the meantime you may want to read up on the topic. For now, however, we’re going to focus on mastering the technical side of mixing, which is beatmatching, and worry later about the artistic side, though both ore of equal importance.

Beatmatching

Beatmatching is the process of syncing the tempo and beats of two tracks so that they play in time with each other. This is a fundamental skill that all DJs need to master in order to create smooth and seamless transitions between tracks, and it’s what the software does for you when you use digital files and turn on sync.

To beatmatch two tracks, you will need to listen to both tracks at the same time, and adjust the tempo of one track so that it matches the tempo of the other track. This is done by adjusting the pitch control on your turntable or mixer.

To start, you should select two tracks that have a similar tempo and beats per minute (BPM). This will make it easier to beatmatch them. Once you have selected your tracks, you should cue up the first track on your turntable, and start it playing.

Next, you should cue up the second track on your other turntable, and start it playing as well. Listen to both tracks carefully, and try to identify the beat of each track. You can do this by counting the beats in your head or tapping your foot to the rhythm.

Once you have identified the beat of each track, you should adjust the pitch control on your second turntable to match the tempo of the first track. This can take some practice, as you will need to adjust the pitch control by small increments until the two tracks are in sync.

Cueing

Cueing is the process of preparing a track to be played, and it involves using your headphones to listen to a track before you start playing it. This allows you to find the right starting point for the track, and to make sure that it is in sync with the track that is currently playing.

To cue a track, you should select the track that you want to play next, and cue it up on your turntable. This means that you should position the needle at the point where you want the track to start playing. Make sure your mixer is set to play that song through the cue, which means you’ll hear it in your headphones, but it won’t play through the house speakers, so the audience won’t hear it.

Mixing Two Songs Together

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to beatmatch with vinyl records:

1. Start by selecting two tracks that have a similar tempo and beats per minute (BPM). This will make it easier to beatmatch them. Over time you can practice mixing songs that aren’t as close in tempo, but when you start, use songs of similar speed.

2. Once you have selected your tracks, cue up the first track on your turntable and start it playing. Make sure that the volume is turned up, and the song is playing through the speakers. This is what your audience will hear.

3. Cue up the second track on your other turntable, and start it playing as well. Make sure that the crossfader is all the way to the other side, so you don’t hear this song playing through the speakers.

4. Put on your headphones and make sure your mixer is set so that the track that is not playing through the speakers is playing through the cue. Different mixers do this differently, so consult the manual if you can’t figure out how to do this. Once it is playing through the cue, you can adjust the balance between cue and master to listen to both tracks at the same time. Adjust the balance on your mixer so that you can hear both tracks equally.

5. Listen carefully to the beat of each track. You can do this by counting the beats in your head or tapping your foot to the rhythm. Focus on the bass drum or the snare drum, as these are the most prominent elements in most tracks. Focus on one track, then the other, and get comfortable isolating each song in your head as you hear both. This will take some practice. Don’t worry about mixing yet, just try to focus on one song while ignoring the other, then switch and focus on the other song, while ignoring the first one.

6. When you are ready to start mixing, bring the needle on the second song back to the beginning of the record, and find a downbeat. If you don’t know what a downbeat is, read this older article I wrote that explains it in detail. Listen to record 1 playing in the headphones, and release record 2 on a downbeat of record 1. At least for a moment, the songs should play in sync, until the tempo difference causes them to slowly drift out of sync.

7. Identify in which direction record 2 (the one the audience cannot hear) is drifting. One way to do this is listen to the snare drums. If you start hearing the snares of record 1 before the snares of record 2, then record 2 is playing at slower tempo. If you hear the snares of record 2 first, it’s faster. You can verify this by either pushing record 2 gently ahead, to help it catch up, or by gently dragging it with your fingers, to slow it down. If you do it correctly, you will temporarily bring the records into sync. After a moment they will start to drift again. It will take some time to develop a light enough touch to do this accurately, so don’t worry if you push too hard or drag too much. In time, it will become second nature, I promise!

8. Once you have ascertained if record 2 is slower or faster than record 2, adjust the pitch control on your second turntable in the appropriate direction, in an attempt to match the tempo of the first track. This can take some practice, as you will need to adjust the pitch control by small increments until the two tracks are in sync. After each adjustment, listen again. Is it still drifting? In what direction? Sometimes you can adjust too much, and will need to nudge the pitch in the other direction. By doing this over and over you will slowly fine-tune the pitch until they are in perfect sync.

9. When the two tracks are in sync, you should hear no drift, and the snares should play on top of each other. The beats are now aligned.

10. Once the two tracks are beatmatched, you can start to mix them together. Use the fader on your mixer to gradually bring in the second track, while slowly lowering the volume of the first track. Try to create a smooth and seamless transition between the two tracks, and make sure that the beats remain in sync.

In a future article, we’ll discuss when and where you should perform the transition described in step 10, but for now just practice getting the beats aligned, and smoothly fading from record 1 into record 2. You can also use EQ and effects to enhance the mix, but for now, make sure that the beats remain in sync at all times. Practice mixing different tracks together until you can easily line up the tempos of any two records. Only then are you ready to worry about phrasing and other enhancements to a mix.

Remember, beatmatching with vinyl records takes a lot of time and practice to master, but with patience and dedication, you can become a skilled DJ and create amazing mixes that sound just as good as what can be done using software and the sync function. Good luck!

The post Beat-Matching & Mixing with Vinyl appeared first on Heavy Hits.

Purchasing a Sound System

Greg Gioia — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 21:44:05 +0000

We’ve talked before about choosing a controller. Now it’s time to talk speakers. Your sound system is an essential investment that directly impacts the quality of your performances. A good sound system can make all the difference in how your music is received by your audience, and can help you stand out in a crowded market. However, with so many options available, purchasing a sound system can be a daunting task. In this article, I’m going to guide you through the best way to purchase a sound system. Remember, no matter how great you are at mixing music, it won’t matter if no one can hear you do it.

Before purchasing a sound system, it’s important to determine your budget. DJ sound systems can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, so it’s crucial to decide how much you’re willing to spend before making any decisions. You should also keep in mind that a good quality sound system is a long-term investment, so it’s better to invest in a high-quality system rather than a cheap one that will need to be replaced soon. Before I purchased my fist sound system, I rented amps and speakers for several years, and saved a portion of what I earned from each gig until I could afford a high-quality system.

The next step is to determine your needs. What type of events will you be performing at? How many people will you be playing for? Will you be playing indoors or outdoors? These are important questions to consider when selecting a sound system.

For example, if you’re playing at a small club, you may only need a system that can accommodate 50-100 people. However, if you’re playing at a large outdoor event, you may need a system that can accommodate several thousand people. You’ll also want to consider the types of music you’ll be playing and the acoustics of the venue. Different genres of music require different types of sound systems. For example, if you’re primarily playing hip hop or EDM, you’ll need a system with powerful bass capabilities.

Once you’ve determined your budget and needs, it’s time to start researching speakers. There are many different types of speakers on the market, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most popular types of speakers for DJ use include:

1. PA Speakers: These are the most common type of speaker used by DJs. They’re designed to produce high-quality sound at high volumes and are often used in outdoor events or large venues.
2. Studio Monitors: These speakers are designed for use in recording studios and are ideal for DJs who want to produce high-quality mixes.
3. Subwoofers: These speakers are designed to produce low-frequency sounds and are often used in conjunction with other speakers to produce a full range of sound.
4. Powered Speakers: These speakers have built-in amplifiers, making them easy to set up and use. They’re often used by DJs who want a portable system.
5. Passive Speakers: These speakers require an external amplifier to power them and are often used in professional setups.

Finally, it’s important to consider the connectivity options that a sound system offers. Ideally, you’ll want a system that can connect to a variety of different devices, such as turntables, CD players, and laptops. Make sure to choose a system that has the inputs and outputs you need to connect all your equipment.

What you choose will depend upon how you worked through the above steps, but here are some popular options for DJ speakers, with details about each one:

JBL Professional EON615 – This powered PA speaker is a popular choice among DJs due to its exceptional sound quality and portability. With a 15-inch woofer and 1000 watts of power, it can produce high-quality sound even in larger venues. The EON615 also features Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream music directly from your phone or tablet. And, it’s solidly built making it suitable for outdoor events.

EV Evolve 50 – The EV Evolve 50 is a portable column array speaker system that is designed for DJ use. It features eight 3.5-inch high-excursion neodymium drivers and a 12-inch subwoofer, which provide a frequency range of 37 Hz – 20 kHz. The Evolve 50 is also equipped with a 3-channel mixer, Bluetooth connectivity, and DSP for optimizing sound performance. It’s easy to transport and set up, making it a popular choice for mobile DJs.

Electro-Voice ZLX-15P – This powered PA speaker is another popular choice for DJs due to its high-quality sound and affordability. With a 15-inch woofer and 1000 watts of power, it can produce rich, clear sound even at high volumes. The ZLX-15P also features an easy-to-use LCD screen and a built-in EQ for customizing your sound. Its lightweight design makes it easy to transport, while its rugged construction ensures it can handle the demands of DJ use.

QSC K12.2 – This powered speaker is a step up in terms of both power and quality. With a 12-inch woofer and 2000 watts of power, it can deliver clear, full-range sound even in larger venues. The K12.2 also features advanced DSP technology for precise sound control, along with a built-in mixer and Bluetooth connectivity. Its sleek, professional design makes it a great choice for DJs who want to impress their clients.

Mackie Thump15BST – This powered speaker is a versatile option that can be used for a variety of DJ applications. With a 15-inch woofer and 1300 watts of power, it can deliver powerful, clear sound even in challenging environments. The Thump15BST also features wireless control via the Thump Connect app, allowing you to adjust EQ, levels, and other settings directly from your phone. Additionally, its durable construction and lightweight design make it easy to transport and set up.

Behringer Eurolive B215D – This passive speaker is a budget-friendly option that still delivers impressive sound quality. With a 15-inch woofer and 550 watts of power, it can produce clear, powerful sound in smaller venues. The B215D also features a built-in amplifier and a durable construction that can withstand the rigors of DJ use. Its lightweight design makes it easy to transport, while its affordability makes it a great choice for DJs on a tight budget.

The post Purchasing a Sound System appeared first on Heavy Hits.

Is Streaming Over?

Greg Gioia — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 22:54:40 +0000

It goes without saying that no one in their right mind wants to return to the days of the pandemic. It was a brutal time, one fraught with sorrow and confusion. Yet that doesn’t mean that one can’t wistfully recall moments that took place during that frightful time, and reminisce about friendships that were made, or fortified, and the experiences we had that otherwise never would have taken place. As DJs, many of us certainly recall the rise of the streaming DJ on Twitch. Let’s take a moment to remember how that began, which I’ll do by recounting my own experiences on Twitch.

I joined Twitch in June, 2019, specifically to stream live DJ performances to friends and fans who couldn’t attend in person. At the time, almost a year before the pandemic, a DJ on Twitch was an anomaly. I am sure there must have been some, but I was unable to find any others no matter how hard I searched. I hoped to find other DJs with whom I could compare notes or troubleshoot, but at the time the platform seemed to be made up entirely of gamers.

Fast-forward to March, 2020 when, as we all remember, the world shut down for the better part of a year, and in some places for closer to two years. On February 15th, a Sunday, the announcement was made that nations around the world were issuing shelter-in-place ordinances, and we were supposed to stay indoors for the next two weeks. The world seemed to be falling apart. People were getting sick, and dying, and people soon to be known as My immediate thoughts were to wonder what I could do to help. Some people, who became known as Essential Workers, had definitive tasks and jobs to do, but what could a DJ do to make things better? The thought popped into my head that people were going to need distraction while sheltering at home, and while I couldn’t do anything on the medical or scientific front, maybe I could help on the “taking people’s mind of their troubles” front, so I posted on Facebook that I’d be hosting a virtual “Online Dance Party” on Twitch on Friday, March 20th.

I expected a handful of friends to see the post and hang out with me while I streamed some music, but instead over 500 strangers from around the world showed up to dance, chat, and socialize. And the streaming DJ was born. At least, sort of. Like I said, I’m sure there were other DJs doing the same thing, even if I hadn’t heard of them or couldn’t find them. Maybe you were one? In any event, soon there were more Twitch DJs than one could count, and folks stuck at home had options every day at any time if they wanted to watch a DJ spin a set.

While people were staying home, streaming DJs thrived. Eventually I started getting booked by my corporate clients to provide private streams for their employees. The world had moved online. But has it stayed there? Or are the days of the streaming DJ numbered? What are your thoughts on this topic? Comment on any of our social media channels and let me know what your own experiences, if any, were on Twitch, and what you see as the current state of the streaming DJ, either on Twitch or any other streaming platform.

The post Is Streaming Over? appeared first on Heavy Hits.

It’s Open Mic Night!

Greg Gioia — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 05:09:51 +0000

Each time I write an article for Heavy Hits, I try to put myself into the mindset of my readers. I know you run the gamut from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. I also know most of you are DJs in some capacity. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess what you want to read about on any given day. When I make that guess, I do my best to offer up something helpful. Sometimes I aim for the newest of the new DJs among my readership, and at other times I try to share something that even the most experienced of DJs will find interesting or useful. However, when it comes down to it, every topic I choose comes from me.

Today, I’d like to try something different, but it will only work if you– yes, YOU– participates. I want to know what’s on your mind today. Leave a comment on any of the social media sites where you see this, and tell me what you’d like to read about in a future blog. Ask questions. Or, share knowledge. Maybe you have expertise in some aspect of DJ’ing that will be helpful to other readers. Maybe even just share a story about a memorable gig or other DJ, or music, related moment in your life.

Today this blog is an open mic, so please take advantage. At the very least, introduce yourself. One of the most beneficial things any DJ can do is network, so get to it. Start networking!

I’m very curious to hear your questions and your thoughts!

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